Chapter Text
It was one of those cases where everything that could go wrong, did. They got the case yesterday and they still had no clue as to why the patient was dying. They had had clues, in fact they’d had many, as was visible on Houses new whiteboard. But they’d had to rule them out, one after another.
When House went home last night, he ordered his fellows to spend the night at the hospital, and Chase, Cameron, and Foreman had taken turns crashing in different on-call rooms.
It was now ten o’clock at night and the team were sitting in the conference room looking defeated. House thought it was time for some cheering up.
“Chase”, he barked. Chase, having been on the verge of falling asleep, jerked and sat up straight.
“Go down to the ER. I heard some nurses talking. They have a whole box om muffins down there. Steal it and come back here, you bounty hunter.”
“Hoooouse,” Chase whined. “Please let me just go buy you something from the cafeteria?”
House pretended to think about it.
“Um, no. Off you go. And if you cheat, I will know about it.”
The others continued to stare at the whiteboard while Chase sauntered off.
When Chase returned, he was not carrying a box of muffins, smiling triumphantly, as House would have hoped. He was instead covered in blood and pressing a towel to his face.
“Oh my god, Chase”, Cameron yelled and came to his rescue to help him sit down on a chair.
“Those must have been some muffins, for Dr Webber to resort to violence to protect them.” House mused.
“Ha. Ha.” Chase said in a deadpan voice. “I got in the way of a psychotic patient going berserk in the ER. Never reached the muffins, and I’m not trying again”.
House limped over to Chase, and struggled with Chases hand for a while before winning the fight, and removed the towel. He frowned. There was a little too much blood for his liking.
“Ok, everybody. Change of plans. No muffins, and there is nothing we can do for this patient that can’t wait until the morning. Cameron and Foreman, go home and get some sleep. Chase, come with me to my office.”
“Why can’t I go home!” Chase whined.
House looked at him, not unkindly.
“Gotta check the nose first, then you get to go home too, I promise.”
Chase looked unhappy but followed his boss into the office. House placed him in his Eames chair and fetched some fresh towels.
“Ok, sit here, head bent backwards, and press this to your face. No blood on my favorite chair, you here me?”
“Yeah OK”.
“Good boy.” And with that, House left the room to go get the stuff he needed to treat Chases injuries. When he had raided a supply closet and was on his way back to the office, he was chased down by Dr Cuddy.
“House, you are needed in the ER. It’s a mayhem down there. A patient’s…” Dr Cuddy started when House interrupted.
“Yes I know, I have Chase bleeding out in my office right now because of that patient, and I am tending to my fellow, and then I am taking him home. Find another doctor.”
“There are no other doctors, let a nurse take a look at Chase. And why was he down in the ER anyways? Was it because of the muffins? House?”
This conversation was taking an unpleasant turn. House decided to end it.
“Ok, as soon as I get Chase checked out, I’ll be down there” he lied. “But now, gotta go” he said and limped away as fast as he could.
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As soon as House left the office Chase relaxed. When was the last time he even sat down for more than five minutes? And this chair was comfortable. It was inevitable really. Chase didn’t stand a chance. His head fell to the side, his hand dropped the towel, and he dozed off, while his blood slowly colored the right side of Houses favorite chair bright red.
FIN